Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2025
Publisher
Guilford Press
Abstract
Although spiritual and religious engagement that includes beliefs, practices, and community involvement has been found to offer numerous physical and mental health benefits, it can also be associated with problematic and dysfunctional perspectives and behaviors. Tragically, many people suffer from obsessive scrupulosity, guilt, anxiety, and depression, as well as discrimination, racism, and violence associated with their religious traditions and engagement or those of others. Mental health professionals must be mindful of both the upsides and the downsides of religiosity and find a way to secure appropriate consultation, embrace professional ethical principles, and support health and wellness for clients. This brief clinical reflection provides examples of religion getting in the way of health and wellness and offers several strategies for therapists to use to better address these issues in their clinical work.
Recommended Citation
Plante, T. G. (2025). Psychotherapeutic Strategies to Cope with the Dark Side of Religious Engagement. Integratus, 3(2), 105–115. https://doi.org/10.1521/intg.2025.3.2.105
